> At a Glance
> – Chantal Kreviazuk releases “All the Walls Came Down” music video
> – The song is the theme for the documentary premiering January 7
> – Film documents community rebuilding after January 2025 wildfires
> – Why it matters: Proceeds and petition signatures aim to halt foreclosures and fund recovery
Grammy-winning artist Chantal Kreviazuk marks the one-year anniversary of the deadly Altadena wildfires with a new ballad and an accompanying documentary that captures the community’s fight to preserve its historic Black neighborhood.
The Song
Kreviazuk, 51, co-wrote the string-laced track with composer Morgan Doctor. Its chorus-“Never knew you from around / ‘Til all the walls came down”-echoes the sudden intimacy forged among neighbors after disaster struck.
The accompanying video intercuts footage of residents:
- Holding lyric posters
- Embracing amid ruins
- Clearing debris left by the January 2025 blaze
> Kreviazuk reflects:
> “Writing and recording this song was incredibly therapeutic for me, and I hope the song and the film can contribute, in some small way, to a community that is still very much in the process of healing.”
The Documentary
Directed by Altadena resident and Oscar-shortlisted filmmaker Ondi Timoner, All the Walls Came Down follows the director’s return to her destroyed neighborhood and chronicles local activist Heavenly Hughes and the group My TRIBE Rise as they rally to prevent displacement.
| Milestone | Status |
|---|---|
| Festival premiere | Telluride Film Festival |
| Awards buzz | Oscar-shortlisted |
| Online petition | 1,500+ signatures demanding foreclosure moratorium |
| Funds raised | Hundreds of thousands of dollars for recovery |
The L.A. Times Short Docs entry debuts Wednesday, Jan. 7.
Key Takeaways
- Kreviazuk’s ballad doubles as a tribute and fundraiser for Altadena
- A Change.org petition tied to the film’s release seeks to halt local foreclosures
- Proceeds from the anthem have already generated six-figure support for rebuilding efforts
The premiere signals both a commemoration and a call to action for a community still rebuilding one year after the fires.
